International Death Penalty News 2019, Issue 20

International Death Penalty News 2019, Issue 20: China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, United States of America

May 20, 2019

Etan Patz: National Missing Children's Day - May 25

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day, as a way to remind the public about missing children and to remind parents and guardians of the importance of having high quality photographs of children.

May 23, 2019

Florida Executes Robert Joseph Long a/k/a Bobby Joe Long

Florida has carried out the execution of Robert Joseph Long a/k/a Bobby Joe Long. Read more here.

May 20, 2019

5 Dead in Honduras

Four Americans and a Canadian pilot died after the plane they were in crashed off the coast of Roatan Island in Honduras. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the popular tourist destination. Please pray for the families of the deceased.

May 20, 2019

11 Killed in Belem, Brazil

A masked gunman shot and killed 11 people in a bar in Belem, Brazil. The gunman burst into a bar and began firing indiscriminately. So far, no one has been arrested. The reason for the shooting is unknown, however, some speculate that it was a gang retaliation for the deployment of federal forces to the city. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for peace.

May 20, 2019

27 Die During Prison Riot

At least three guards and 24 inmates were killed during a riot at a high-security prions in Vakhdat, Tajikistan. The riot started after three guards were taken hostage by the prisoners. The prison is known to hold several members of the Islamic State terrorist group, as well as other religious extremists.

May 20, 2019

7 Declared Dead After Boat Capsizes in Uganda

So far, seven individuals have officially been declared dead after a boat capsized in western Uganda. Onboard the boat was more than 50 football (soccer) players and fans. In addition to the seven deaths, dozens of others remain missing. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for the safety of those missing.

May 20, 2019

4 Killed in Plane Crash in Dubai

Three Britons and a South African have died after the small, four-seat plane they were traveling in crashed three miles south of the Dubai International Airport. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. Please pray for the families of the deceased.

May 20, 2019

Tensions Rising Between United States and Iran

Tensions between the governments of the United Staes and Iran have been rising due, in part, to the effects of US sanctions against Iran, which is having an adverse effect on Iran’s economy. In response, Iran is threatening to resume its nuclear activities. Please pray that the two governments may come together and resolve their differences peacefully.

May 20, 2019

Welcome to Our New Website!

We are very excited to share with you our newly designed website! Our look may have changed, but our mission remains the same - sharing God’s word throughout the world. As with any new project, there may be a few wrinkles to work out; please bear with us! We are continuing to work and update our older articles.

Welcome to the Forgiveness Foundation

As he got up to speak before the congregation, he felt like his knees would give out on him. His hands trembled, shaking the pages on which he had written what he wanted to say. He laid them on the podium, and smoothed them down with the back of his hand - his palms were sweaty. Speaking today was his choice; he wasn’t forced into it. It was something he felt he needed to do.

As he began to speak, his voice trembled. It was hard being this honest and open, especially in front of those whose love and respect he wanted. He had not lived a good life. He was raised in a violent household and, knowing no better, was a violent teenager and young adult. It was not until he was sent to prison that he discovered the healing power of a relationship with Jesus. He will never forget the moment he gave his life to Christ - the relief that he was not fighting his battles alone, the peace that came from acknowledging his past mistakes, and the hope for the future. Once released, he was determined to maintain these changes in his life, and continue the healing he had begun when he accepted Christ as his Savior.

And, for a while, the changes remained. He attended church, even met a Christian woman and got married. But life became difficult again, and he spiraled downward into some of his former habits, particularly drinking, which often led to lies and violence. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he did not like the person he was again becoming. He missed the healing that had been granted to him. Then a friend came to him, confronted him about his behavior. He was angry. He yelled. He smashed a bottle. He nearly hit his friend, only realizing what he was doing at the last second. He broke down in tears, once again coming before the Lord, seeking His forgiveness and His healing.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16, ESV)

But this time, he realized it was not only the Lord’s forgiveness he needed to seek. He needed to also seek forgiveness from those he harmed. With each person he talked to, confessing and asking forgiveness, another part of him would begin to heal. He began rebuilding relationships and his life. His sister was the one person that refused to forgive him. He had emotionally and verbally abused her for years and she wanted nothing to do with him. It hurt that she would not forgive him, but after much prayer, he realized that it was not the receiving of forgiveness which granted him healing and peace, but the honest and earnest confession of sins and the desire to right his wrongs that brought him peace.

She held a grudge for his past actions. As much as she claimed he was out of her life and his actions no longer affected her, she also knew she was lying. It had hardened her heart. When he called to ask forgiveness, she thought he was joking. And when she realized he wasn’t, she couldn’t believe his gall! After all he had put her through, a simple “I’m sorry,” was supposed to make things right? To her surprise, her anger did not make him angry. He did not press for her forgiveness, but let her be angry, expressing hope that one day things would be different, but promising not to bother her again.

Then one day, she saw him from a distance. She saw the way he interacted with others, with children. They loved him. She saw the changes that she did not see earlier. Before she knew what she was doing, she approached him. “I forgive you,” she whispered. With those three words, she felt something cold and heavy leave her, and be replaced with a warmth. It was a step forward for her healing, which she didn’t even know she needed.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, ESV)

Words alone cannot offer healing. Words alone cannot guarantee salvation. Yet words are still extremely important for both! We are instructed to confess to each other - we must speak aloud our sins! We are instructed to confess with our mouth - we must speak aloud our faith! So too must we speak aloud our desire for forgiveness and healing!

Healing begins with recognition of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Only through Him can peace and healing through forgiveness occur.

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In today’s social media obsessed, 24/7, instant access society, judgements are formed immediately. Decisions made rapidly. Words, written and spoken, delivered without thought, sometimes anonymously...

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After God created Adam and Eve, He gave them simple instructions to follow - Do not eat (Genesis 2:16-17). They failed to follow these instructions were tossed out from the Garden of Eden into the ha...

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Five days a week, millions of children attend school were teachers and professors use words to teach them about that day’s lesson. Each week, pastors deliver, with words, sermons and messages designe...

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A five-year recovering alcoholic is struggling. It has been a rough day, roughest in a long while and he is craving a drink. He calls his friend who is willing to drop everything and be with him if ...